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Pocahontas 



and 



The Dawn of 
Our Nation 




Pocahontas 



and 



The DaAvn of 
Our Nation 




Published by 

CHARLES D. PLATT 

Dover, New Jersey 

U. S. A. 



\- 



. \' 



Coperight 192! 
Bg Charles Davis Plait 



FEB -7 1321 






booer Adeaitce, Printer* 
Dover, N. J. 

©CI.D 5r,957 



73 



Preface 



In 1914, while making inquiries 
about the history of Dover, New Jer- 
sey, I entered upon a correspondence 
with Mrs. Althea Fitz Randolph Bedle, 
of Jersey City, widow of Hon. Joseph 
D. Bedle, a former Governor of New 
Jersey. From her I obtained genea- 
logical notes of the Fitz Randolph 
family, represented in this section by 
Hartshorne Fitz Randolph, from 
whom our Randolph Township takes 
its name. 

Seeing that I was interested in his- 
torical matters, Mrs. Bedle sent me 
a poem that she had begun on Poca- 
hontas, the Indian princess of Vir- 
ginia, asking me to assist in the re- 
vision and completion of the poem. 
The character and personality of Po- 
cahontas were very near and dear to 
Mrs. Bedle's heart, and she has de- 
scribed her heroine with a woman's 
sympathy and enthusiasm, and with 
true poetic feeling. Her version of 
the story was completed in about two 
hundred lines. 

My attention being thus called to 
this subject, I took up, in my summer 
vacation, the study of the original nar- 
ratives of the settlement of James- 
town, and began to turn the whole 
history into a narrative poem, placing 
the various events in chronological 
order, as I disentangled them from 
the various independent sources. Mrs. 
Bedle was greatly interested in this 
historical development of the subject 
and did everything in her power to 
assist me in carrying out the plan of 
a longer poem that should supplement 
her own work. 

I afterwards reduced my long nar- 
rative poem to a shorter lyric version 
of about six hundred lines, omittine 
much of the detail. For the substance 
of these historical poems I am indebt- 
ed to the early narratives of Captain 
John Smith and other cotemporaries 
of Pocahontas as edited by Lyon Gard- 
iner Tyler, LL.D., President of the 
College of William and Mary. 

Mr. Victor Hugo Paltsits, Head of 
the Department of American History 
in the Public Library of New York 
City, put at my disposal many other 
books of reference. My aim has hopn 



to follow the history as truly as pos- 
sible, rather than to make a fictitious 
historical romance. Truth is stranger 
than fiction, and may be more inter- 
esting than some fiction. 

The cotemporaries of Pocahontas 
were cotemporaries of Shakespeare. 
Shakespeare died just a few weeks 
before Pocahontas arrived in England. 
She created a great sensation in Euro- 
pean circles as La Belle Sauvage. She 
deserves to be remembered today as 
one who welcomed the dawn of our 
nation. 

The following note on the descend- 
ants of Pocahontas is taken from an 
article by Alfred B. Williams, in the 
New York Times Book Review and 
Magazine of January 9, 1921. 

"The Indian blood from Pocahontas, 
of which John Randolph, of Roanoke, 
was so proud, was given to the family 
by Lucy Boiling, direct descent on her 
father's side, of the Indian Princess. 
This Lucy married a Randolph, grand- 
son of William Randolph (1651-1711). 

The touch of Indian blood seemed 
not only to add vigor to the stock, 
but, strangely enough, to give it con- 
servative tendencies. John Marshall, 
the Chief Justice, whose mother was 
Mrs. Keith, formerly Mary Isham 
Randolph, great-granddaughter of 
Jane Rolfe, who was granddaughter 
of Pocahontas, was a bulwark of con- 
servative sentiment, stable govern- 
ment, and unity among the States. 

The story of Pocahontas will be 
presented in two forms, one entitled 
"Scenes from the Life of Pocahontas, 
the Indian Princess;" and the other 
entitled "The Dawn of Our Nation." 
It should be of interest to all Ameri- 
can citizens, in this year of historical 
anniversaries, to review the early 
contact of the two races — the Red Men 
and the White Men — in 1607, and to 
note those ideals of life, which, in 
spite of all obscuration, were most 
vital in the English race as it gained 
at Jamestown its first permanent 
foothold upon the shores of the New 
World. 

CHARLES D. PLATT. 



Scenes from the Life of the Indian Princess 
POCAHONTAS 

By ALTHEA FITZ RANDOLPH BEDLE 



Part I. 
In the colony at Jamestown 
Where the English-speaking Pale Face 
Meets the Red Men of the forest, 
Ruled by Powhatan the crafty, 
Soon Peace turns to open warfare. 
And the Chief's grim warriors gather, 
Seize the White Man's leader, take 

him 
To their tribe, deep in the forest. 
There they bind him and make ready 
For an ominous feast of triumph. 

From afar, in garb of warfare, 
Come the chiefs of all the wildwood, 
To behold the White Man perish. 
On the ground they drag their captive, 
Braves attired in all their war-paint. 
In the presence of their Chieftain, 
Powhatan, relentless warrior! 

Two great stones are brought and on 

them 
Now the White Man's head is ready, 
While two braves, with arm uplifted. 
Stand prepared to dash his brains out. 
Then the maiden Pocahontas 
Rushes forward, none can stop her, 
Throws her arms about the captive. 
Cries, — "O spare him! Spare the Pale- 
face!" 

On his head her glossy tresses 
Rested, and the death-blow fell not. 
So the Chieftain's darling daughter 
Snatched from death, from death most 

speedy. 
Brave John Smith, the Pale-face Cap- 
tain. 

When a captive thus is rescued, 
Snatched from death, restored to 

freedom, 
He shall then cleave to his savior. 
Be adopted as a tribesman. 

Powhatan, his heart won over, 
All his threatening wrath abated. 
Takes the White Man to his wigwam, 
Welcomes home the Great White 
Father, 



And the Pale-face, glad and grateful, 
Shares with them his White Man's 

magic, 
Gives the Indian maiden lessons 
In the wondrous lore of Spelling, 
In the mystic art of Reading, 
In the mystery of "learning," 
That which makes the White Man 

master. 

Handiwork he made to please her, 
Beads to charm the Indian maiden, 
Bells to charm her with their tinkling, 
When she wore them on her garments. 

And, for Powhatan, swift arrows 
Fashioned he and taught him wonders. 
Thus he won their hearts, repaid 

them 
For the kindness they had shown him. 

Part II. 
In the dawning of the morning, 
While the village still is sleeping, 
Through the darkness of the forest 
Comes the youthful Pocahontas, 
Child of Powhatan, the chieftain. 

Angel of the Woodland vistas. 
On the Indian maiden passes. 
Where the Whippoorwill complaineth 
And the startled fawn doth wander. 
Ghostly phantoms playing o'er her. 

With her heavy-laden basket 
Comes the Chieftain's darling daugh- 
ter, 
O'er the dreary, dismal marshes, 
By the streams of mighty waters. 
Hastening to relieve the Settlers, 
Bringing food to feed the Pale-face. 

Dark-eyed is the Chieftain's daughter, 
Gentle, brave, and tender-hearted, 
And she hears with secret anguish 
Of the danger now impending 
O'er the strangers in the forest. 

To the noble Pale-face leader 
Now she gives her laden basket. 
And with tearful eye she warns him 
Of her sire's insidious purpose. 



SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF POCAHONTAS 



Deeply stirred is he, the Pale-face, 
By her plaintive tones of warning. 
By her childlike ways so gentle, 
By her grace with firmness mingled. 

Then she turns and journeys home- 
ward; 
In the wind her glossy tresses 
Toss: the fringes of her blanket 
Wave about her form, enhancing 
All her charms of youthful beauty. 

Through the forest shades the daugh- 
ter 
Of the Chieftain passes onward. 
Listens to the song of wild birds. 
Sees the eagle soar above her. 
Notes the quickly darting rabbit. 
And the squirrel beside her pathway. 

On she hastens, now returning. 
O'er the streams of sparkling water. 
Toward the village fast awakening, 
Toward the curling smoke of wig- 
wams. 
To the sunrise of the meadow. 
To the sunshine of the cornfields. 
Through the groves of singing pine 

trees, 
"Ever sighing, ever singing." 

As she goes her heart is troubled 
And she prays to the Good Spirit — 
"Help me! save me from the anger 
Of my father, from his fury. 
When he learns of this my warning 
To the Pale-face in the forest." 

So she came with basket laden 
Often to the stranger Pale-face, 
Through the dark wood, unaffrighted. 
Through the night, to save from 

famine 
And from death the starving White 

Men. 

Part III. 

Later, Fortune's wheel, oft turning. 
Made the Indian maiden captive. 
When the White Men came in numbers 
And in power before unheard of. 
Kindness then was shown the captive 
In her turn, and one, as lover. 
Sought her for his bride and won her, 
For she now was grown a woman, 
With the charm of grace and goodness. 

Then they christened her Rebecca, 
"Bond of Peace," for she united 
Hostile bands. Red Men and White 

Men. 
Bond of Peace, so may she ever 
Stand, an emblem of the mercy 



That wins mercy and takes captive 
More than cruel war can boast of. 

Rolfe it was, John Rolfe from Eng- 
land, 
Whom the Indian Princess favored 
With her heart and hand in marriage. 

Grieving for his wife departed. 
Buried in the Jamestown churchyard. 
He beheld the Indian maiden. 
Graceful, gliding o'er the meadow. 
In her coat of doe-skin leather. 
With its fringe of many colors 
And her cap adorned with feathers. 
Like a sylvan spirit, charming 
In her youthful strength and beauty, 
Powhatan's own dearest daughter. 
Born a princess, loved by many, 
And they called her by a pet name, 
"Clear, bright stream of laughing 

wate % 
Mid the hills and valleys flowing." 
Thus they called the Chieftain's 

daughter. 
Well-beloved Pocahontas. 

Often, when John Rolfe beheld her, 
He was comforted in sorrow. 
Thus he wooed and she consented. 

To the little church at Jamestown, 
Day of days! he led the Princess. 
There in gown of cloth and tinsel, 
From beyond the seas imported, 
Decked in bracelets, trinkets, jewels. 
She was married to the White Man. 

At her side stood Rolfe in velvet. 
Sword-girt, with right hand uplifted. 
Asking Heaven's richest blessing 
On their union. 

At the wedding 
Many, many guests were present, — 
Maidens fair and children bringing 
Flowers and ferns to grace the wed- 
ding. 
Armed men were there, but peaceful; 
Swords were sheathed, for here an 

omen 
Of more peaceful times was sought 

for, 
When the Red Man and the White 

Man 
Should be friends, should be as broth- 
ers. 

Part IV. 

There, beside the flowing river, 
Was their home, amidst the cornfields 
And the gifts of Nature's bounty. 
Game was all about them — rabbit. 
Deer and doe, and coon in plenty. 



SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF POCAHONTAS 



And the Princess, not in market, 
But in field and in the forest. 
With her bow and flying arrow- 
Knew the art to stock the larder. 

To their love a son was given 
By the loving Great Good Spirit; 
But the husband now must take them 
To his home beyond the ocean, 
To old England, towards the sunrise. 

There his Indian bride is noted 
For her beauty and her lineage, 
At the royal court presented 
To King James and to Queen Annie, 
And her fame spread to the nations. 

But the life of court and city 

Did not please the Indian Princess. 

No, she yearned for field and forest, 



For the land of doe and squirrel. 
For the pine-trees and the corn-fields, 
For the bow and for the arrow, 
For the moccasins of buckskin. 
For the hills and for the meadows. 
For the streams that flow unceasing. 
Now their ship lies in the harbor, 
Soon to sail and reach the homeland; 
But, ah no! another "Homeland" 
Summons her to Islands Blessed, 
To the "Land of the Hereafter." 

There the great Good Spirit welcomes 
All his children. Red Men, White 

Men, 
Bids them share his lovingkindness, 
Heals Earth's wounds and soothes its 

sorrows 
In the Land of the Hereafter. 




POCAHONTAS 

AND 

THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 

By CHARLES D. PLATT 



Introduction 



In this month of December, 1920, 
attention is directed to the landing of 
the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, as 
the historic moment when the Dawn 
of our Nation became visibly lumin- 
ous, in 1G20. But let us not forget 
that some streaks of roseate dawn 
began to brighten the historical hor- 
izon in 1607, at JamestowTi, Virginia. 
Captain John Smith was the leading 
spirit of that earlier dawn. His pub- 
lished reports and maps, his conversa- 
tions with his cotemporaries in Eng- 
land, his efforts as a promoter of the 
plan to "plant" or colonize the won- 
derful new continent not only scat- 
tered abroad much of the first scanty 
information about the territory that 
has since become the United States, 
but aroused interest in this New 
World and stimulated the spirit of 
adventure that would dare to cross 
the sea. John Smith, as a navigator, 
a map-maker, an explorer, a writer 
and a talker, helped to point the way. 
In 1614 he spent eighty days on the 
coast of New England from Penob- 
scot to Cape Cod. He gave it the 
name "New England." Edward Arber, 
the pre-eminent biographer of Captain 
Smith, says: "It is quite clear that he 
offered to lead out the Pilgrim Fath- 
ers to America and that they declined 
his services 'to save charges, saying 
my books and maps were much better 
cheape to teach them, than myselfe.' " 
Arber adds: "Smith grieved over his 
mishaps and ill-fortune in 1615 and 
1617, but posterity may be glad that 



he never did get to New England 
again. That work was carried on by 
other hands; and we rejoice thereby 
to possess The New England Trials, 
1620 and 1622; the General History, 
1625; (and other works) — all of which 
would never have come to press had 
not Man and Providence frustrated all 
his attempts to go and settle." Of 
New England and Virginia Smith 
says: "I call them my children; for 
they have been my wife, my hawks, 
my hounds, my cards, my dice, and in 
total, my best content." 

Arber remarks: "Whenever gener- 
ous spirits served under him they 
learned to love and admire the man. 
So, at length, posterity will learn to 
do the like, and see in him a noble 
example of what a Christian Gentle- 
man and Officer may be, may do and 
may endure." 

Arber cites many letters and even 
poems written by intimate friends of 
Smith, testifying to his honesty, 
truthfulness and hi.yh character. 

In return for his enthusiastic labors 
Siiiith seems to have received but 
scant appreciation cr recompense, not 
even owning a house of his own. 
Others reaped a rich harvest from his 
explorations, while he received the 
cold shoulder and critical approbrium 
as his reward. 

And even in recent years, in Ameri- 
ca, he has been held up to the con- 
tempt of our reading public as a mere 
romancer— the "champion liar of 
•American historv" — all because of 



SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF POCAHONTAS 



that Pocahontas story. That story of 
his rescue by Pocahontas was received 
without suspicion until 1866, when Dr. 
Charles Deane, of Boston, called at- 
tention to the fact that Smith made 
no reference to this story in his 
earliest report to the company that 
sent him out in 1606. 

Dr. Deane assumed that Smith af- 
terwards invented the story to em- 
bellish his General History, or per- 
haps borrowed it from another writer 
who had reported an Indian custom 
of permitting a woman of the tribe 
to intercede in behalf of a captive 
condemned to death. 

This assumption of Deane's was 
hailed as a great step in historical 
criticism. Soon our histories of the 
United States (such as Bryant's) be- 
gan to refer to this Pocahontas res- 
cue in terms of discrediting doubt and 
superior wisdom. Our encyclopedias 
echoed the doubt — reflected the new 
light. Then John Fiske, an American 
historian of good standing, delivered 
a lecture in London, in 1879, defending 
the veracity of John Smith. Other 
writers— W. W. Henry in 1882, 
Charles Poindexter, 1893— rallied to 
the defense, and now the historians, 
cyclopedias and expounders of 
American literature are swinging 
round and following the lead of John 
Fiske. 

It is easy to see that if there was 
a custom among the American In- 
dians of permitting a woman of the 
tribe to save the life of a prisoner, 
and if some other writer had noted 
that fact, the Pocahontas story is not 
false on that account. It may simply 
confirm the custom. But Pocahontas 
was not then a woman. She was a 
child of ten or twelve — the favorite 
child of the old chief. Even as a 
child she had a will of her own. That 
is her prime characteristic. She had 
been deeply impressed by the person- 
ality of the white captive. He was to 
her a marvel of novelty and strange 
knowledge and power. The Indians 
even suspected, for a time, that he 
was a god in disguise. Little Poca- 
hontas did not hesitate, but saved the 
prisoner, whether it was her tribal 
rip:ht or not. He was later adopted 
into the tribe v/ith strange rites, but 
was soon permitted to return to 
Jamestov/n. The incident explains the 
subsequent dealings of Smith with 
the Indians, and the freedom with 



which Pocahontas visited the white 
man's settlement, becoming more at 
home there than with her own people. 

From this point of view the story 
supplies a necessary link in the his- 
tory of the Jamestown colony. Why 
did Smith omit such a thrilling tale 
from his first published report? The 
defendants have pointed out that he 
(or the directors of the London Com- 
pany) may have omitted reference to 
this interesting adventure in the first 
published report, designed to draw col- 
onists to Virginia, inasmuch as some 
men might not regard such hair- 
breadth escapes as sufficiently allur- 
ing. They might reason that it would 
be safer to stay in Old England rather 
than be saved so dramatically even 
by an Indian Princess. And it is to 
be noted that Smith did not marry 
her. Some romantic Americans will 
have it that he did marry her, so little 
is the true history known. 

Ten years later, when Pocahontas, 
now Lady Rebecca Rolfe, came to 
England with her husband and child, 
Smith "writ a little booke to the 
Queene" in her behalf. In this his- 
toric letter to the Queen he dwells 
upon a number of reasons for ex- 
tending to the Indian Princess the 
courtesy of a court reception. He 
tells of her many kindnesses and how 
"she next under God, was still the 
instrument to preserve this Colonic 
from death, famine, and utter confu- 
sion." The letter is a masterpiece. 
But the critic would have us believe 
that Smith lied to her Majesty on this 
occasion. This would have been a 
risky thing for him to do (assuming 
that he was such a fabulist). The 
truth would have leaked out. There 
was Pocahontas to reckon with. Would 
she have been a party to such a 
trick? There is no hint in all her 
history to warrant the supposition. 
She was fearless, outspoken, straight- 
forward — not the one to cringe for 
favor. This is not a question of 
Smith's veracity alone. He and Poca- 
hontas stand or fall together. And 
the old Indian, Uttamattomakkin, 
would doubtless be able to testify in 
a case so unforgettable. And Lord 
Delaware and Deputy Governor Dale 
and Rolfe were doubtless acquainted 
with the traditions of the colony. But, 
in case the story had never been heard 
before, all these persons would have 
to be instructed how to carry off the 



SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF POCAHONTAS 



fiction. We begin to see what a 
tangled web Smith would have had 
to weave, if he had falsely palmed off 
this rescue story on the queen. Could 
he have persuaded all the persons in 
the party from Virginia to agree upon 
such an impromptu performance^if 
it were such ? 

I cannot help wondering why the 
historians, publishers of encyclopedias 
and others who discredited this story 
took no account of the fact that Po- 
cahontas was there in England for a 
year, attended court and many public 
masks, and was the subject of much 
social attention. There was abund- 
ant opportunity for her to confirm or 
deny a story in which she was said 
to be the chief actor. 

Pocahontas died in 1617, as she 
was taking ship to return to Virginia. 
She was buried in St. George's Church 
at Gravesend, England. At a me- 
morial service held there in July, 
1914, the Honorable Walter Hines 
Page, American Ambassador to Great 
Britain, delivered the oration. He 
said: "The romantic story of this 
North American Indian Princess is 
too well known to make any extended 
repetition of it necessary. There is, 
so far as I know, no parallel to it in 
American annals, and it is a story 
so human and kindly and beautiful 
that it has taken its place among the 
immortal episodes of history. It has, 
of course, become a subject of dispute 
by historians, but all its romantic 
details, whether literally true or not, 
have been so thoroughly acccepted by 
the public that the doubts of histor- 
ians have a poor chance against the 
world's love of romance." 

Why leave the matter under any 
shadow of suspicion, as if the story 
must stand, not upon historical fact, 
but upon the public's love of romance? 
John Fiske, in "Old Virginia and Her 
Neighbors," after a thorough and 
masterful discussion which upholds 
the credit of American scholarship, 
sums up the case as follows: 

"I have dwelt at some length upon 
the question of Smith's veracity for 
three good reasons. First, in the in- 
terests of sound historical criticism, 
it is desirable to show how skepticism, 
which is commonly supposed to indi- 
cate superior sagacity, is quite as 
likely to result from imperfect un- 
derstanding. 

Secondly, justice should be done to 



the memory of one of the noblest and 
most lovable characters in American 
history. 

Thirdly, the rescue of Smith by Po- 
cahontas was an event of real histori- 
cal importance. Without it the sub- 
sequent relations of the Indian girl 
with the English colony became in- 
comprehensible. But for her friendly 
services on more than one occasion, 
the tiny settlement would probably 
have perished. Her visits to James- 
town and the regular supply of pro- 
visions by the Indians began at this 
time." 

The following statement is from 
Tyler's Narratives of Early Virginia, 
1606-1625: The narrative, "A ^True 
Relation," by Captain John Smith, 
being a brief account of the Virginia 
colonists from December 20, 1606 to 
June 2, 1608, was published in Eng- 
land in August, 1608. It was edited 
by other hands, while Captain Smith 
was still in Virginia, and "the editor 
expressly states that it does not in- 
clude the entire manuscript as it came 
from Smith. Smith was often inac- 
curate in his estimates as to time 
and place and often very prejudiced 
in his judgments of others, but that 
is far from saying that he could mis- 
take plain objects of sense or deliber- 
ately concoct a story having no foun- 
dation." 

Thus we see that Dr. Deane's con- 
clusion as to the rescue story has 
been reversed by later critics. Poca- 
hontas, meantime, has gained another 
feather in her cap — she has become 
a classical illustration of the art of 
Higher Criticism. 

The history of this critical discus- 
sion should not so distract us that we 
fail to appreciate the life and char- 
acter of John Smith and his associ- 
ates — especially the part played by 
that forward-looking spirit of the 
wildwood who welcomed the new-era- 
bringing race upon the threshold of 
her ancestral continent. This life I 
have endeavored to present and inter- 
pret in a brief lyric poem, designed 
for the stage, as a pageant play. In 
a longer narrative poem (unpublish- 
ed) I have given, with fuller detail, 
an intimate view of that momentous 
decade— 1607 to 1617— The Early 
Dawn of Our Nation. 

CHARLES D. PLATT. 
Dover, New Jersey, 
December, 1920. 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



PERSONS REPRESENTED 

Captain John Smith Leader of the White Men 

Captain Newport In Command of the Fleet 

Captain Argall Captain of a Sailing Vessel 

Lord Delaware Governor of Virginia under King James 

Sir Thomas Dale Deputy Governor of Virginia 

John Rolf --- An English Gentleman 

Parson Whitaker A Puritan Missionary 

Rev. Richard Buck Married Rolfe to Pocahontas, 1614 

Archer, Ratcliffe, Martin - - Colonists who conspire against John Smith 
Anas Todkill, Richard Wiff in, William Phettiplace - Settlers with Smith on trips 

Henry Spilman Interpreter 

Powhatan, Emperor of Virginia Head of the Indians 

Opechamo -- -- Uncle of Pocahontas 

Opechancanough An Indian Chief 

Weraskoyack An Indian Chief 

Nantasquawis Brother of Pocahontas 

Japazaws An Indian Chief at Patawomeck (Potomac) 

Uttamattomakkin - An Old Indian 

Four Indian Chiefs Soldiers White Men Boys at Plymouth 

Courtiers Indian Warriors 

Pocahontas Daughter of Powhatan 

Squaw of Japazaws Indian Women Indian Girls in Sylvan Maskarado 

Indian Maidens at Wedding Two White Women 



King James of England Queen Anne of England Lady Delaware 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



ACT. I 
Scene 1 — The Forests of Virginia, 
1607. Chorus of Indians, led by Ope- 
chancanough, their chief, surrounding 
Captain John Smith, a captive, whom 
they have just drawn out of the river 
mire. 

1 Chorus of Warriors. 
Wa-wa-wa! Wa-wa-wa! Wa-wa-wa! 
We have him! we have him! we have 

him! 
The White Man, the White Man is 

ours! 
The bearded man, the bearded man 

is ours! 
With his fire-gun that makes a noise! 
The Great White Chief is ours 
We drew him out of the river mud! 
We took him when he could not flee! 
Wa-wa-wa! Wa-wa-wa! Wa-wa-wa! 
Take him to Powhatan, to Powhatan! 

2 Captain John Smith. 
At the Court of Powhatan. Smith 
uses gestures and sign language. Pow- 
hatan, wives, warriors, Pocahontas, 
her brother Nantasquawis, other chil- 
dren and Indians — all watch Smith. 
Look! Look! this ivory ball 
Will show you, one and all, 
The earth on which we live. 
This needle here will give 
North, south, east, west — behold! 
It moves, and trembling turns! 
From such a charm one learns 
To sail the seas, and, bold, 
To visit lands unknown 
And find his way alone. 

Earth, like this ball, doth spin, 
And so we see sun, moon. 
And stars, the sky within, 
That move and change eftsoon. 

There, in the sky above. 
Reigns the great God of love. 
His children all are we. 
White Man and Red Man free. 
His eye beholds me here. 
He bids me have no fear! 

(Indians all listen, spellbound.) 

3 Four Indian Chiefs in unison. 
This man is doomed to die! 
With his fire-gun he slew 
Our brothers — two, yes two! 

(Hold up fingers) 
This man is doomed to die! 

(Commotion. Scene breaks up. Pre- 
pare new scene.) 

4 Scene of Execution. 
Smith with head on a great stone. 
He is bound. Warriors with clubs 



stand over him, ready to strike. 

Pocahontas. 
Stay! stay! strike not the blow! 
Take not his life — no, no! 
The good White Father spare!! 
I claim him as my share. 
My share of booty brought 
From battles you have fought. 
Spare the White Father, spare! 

(Falls on Smith and covers his head 
with her tresses.) 

5 Chorus of Indian Women. 
Spare the White Father, spare! 

For Powhatan's dear child 

Bids us be reconciled: 
Spare the White Father, spare! 

(The executioners drop their clubs 
that had been raised to strike. Smith 
is raised up and unbound, led away 
by Pocahontas.) 



After his rescue Smith was initiated 
by weird ceremonies and adopted into 
the tribe. He says that Pocahontas 
not only saved his life "but so pre- 
vailed with her father that I was 
safely conducted to Jamestowne." 

This explanation prepares the way 
for his visiting the Indian village 
again, as shown in the following 
scene. 

During his captivity of three weeks 
Smith may be shown in a pantomime 
scene, entertaining Pocahontas in the 
manner described on page one. 
He was provided with "Bels, Pinnes, 
Needles, Beades or Glasses" which 
were highly esteemed by the Indians. 



Powhatan. 
Scene in the Forest, an Indian Village. 

Captain Smith and four companions 
have arrived and ask to see Powhatan. 
He is away. To entertain them while 
they wait a day or two, a feast is 
spread, and a chorus of Indian girls, 
decked in garlands, with antlers tied 
to their heads, perform a Sylvan 
Maskarado. (30 of them.) Pocahontas 
is among them. First they are heard 
in the woods, shrieking wildly and 
approaching. Then they appear, ges- 
ticulating, armed with bow and ar- 
rows, quivers at their backs, spears 
in hand. Some carry potsticks, some 
clubs. 

The White Men are startled and 
seize their weapons to defend them- 
selves from a sudden attack, as they 
think. 

The Indians all laugh and assure 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



them that it is all in fun. They quiet 
down, lay aside weapons and watch 
the proceedings in a guarded way, not 
favorably impressed — glum and fear- 
ful. 
6 Chorus of Indian Girls, heard in 

the woods. 
How-how-how-how-how! How-how! 

How-how! How! 
Pale Face! Pale Face! Pale Face! 
We come, we come, we come! 
From glen and wood and stream we 

come! 
We come, we come, we come! 

(They appear, shrieking wildly, ges- 
ticulating &c. White Men seize wea- 
pons, to defend themselves. All the 
Indians laugh and reassure them.) 

7 Indians All, in chorus. 
Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! 
Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! 
No harm! no harm! no harm! 
No kill, no kill, no kill! 

(The White Men put away their 
weapons, but are watchful.) 
8 The Maskers, with gestures, arms 
outspread in token of welcome. 
Throw away spears. 
Welcome, welcome, welcome! 
Welcome we bring, we bring! 
Our spears away we fling! 

(Suit action to word.) 
This is our festal day. 
In harmless woodland play 
We bid our guests a welcome glad: 
Fear not, fear not, be glad! 

(Dance about, and with actions rep- 
resent a hunt in the forest, and other 
Indian doings.) 

After the arrival of Powhatan a 
Coronation Scene is prepared by Cap- 
tain Newport and Captain Smith, to 
carry out the express commands of 
King James. 

9 Captain Newport. 
To Powhatan, great king 
Of forest tribes, I bring 
Greetings from o'er the sea: 
His Sovereign Majesty, 
King James, hath made decree 
To crown the Powhatan as lord 
Of lands he rules by spear and swcrd. 
This crown we bring 
To crown thee king 
And gloriously acclaim thee! 
Virginia's Emperor we hail thee! 
Rule thou by right divine 
O'er all the lands thy spear makes 

thine ! 
Now bend the knee, kneel down, kneel 
down! 



And let us crown thee with this crown! 
(Powhatan objects to kneeling) 

10 Powhatan. 

Keep, keep your paltry crown! 
I will not bend the knee! 
I rule by might, not by decree 
Of your King James, nor do I see 

Why I should wear a crown. 

Or on my knees fall down! 

11 Newport to Smith. 
This crowning must take place 
Or we are in disgrace! 

12 Smith. 
Just crowd him down a bit. 
Like this— that's it! that's it! 

(They both lean hard on Powhatan's 
shoulders until he yields a little.) 

Smith — continues. 
Now put the crown upon his head! 
Behold Virginia's Emperor dread! 
His power who can dispute ? 
Now give the grand salute! 

(Newport fires a pistol as signal, 
and a salute is fired by cannon in the 
barge on the river near by. Powha- 
tan starts in fear; but they quiet him 
down, and assure him that no hostil- 
ity is intended.) 

Smith and Newport. 
Fear not, Virginia's Emperor, fear 

not! 
It is to honor you we fire this shot. 

(Powhatan looks rather suspicious 
and fearful.) 

Scene 14 — In the forest. Smith with 
36 men is on his way, some time later 
than preceding scene, to visit Pow- 
hatan at his capital, Werowocomoco, 
and get provisions by trading with 
him, in accordance with Powhatan's 
urgent invitation. This journey, with 
a variety of incidents, is described in 
the Narrative Version. Weraskoyack, 
an Indian chief with whom Smith 
stays over night, warns Smith against 
the treachery of Powhatan, and tries 
to persuade him not to go further. 
He tells of the cruel deeds of Pow- 
hatan. 

We-ra-sko-yack. 
Beware, beware, beware! 
Trust not the Powhatan! 

He will promise, use you kindly, 
Lure you on to trust him blindly— 
Beware, beware, beware! 
Trust not the Powhatan! 

Beware, beware, beware! 
Trust not the Powhatan! 

See his neighbors, who in anguish. 



10 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



In despair and torment languish! 
Beware, beware, beware! 
Trust not the Powhatan! 

Take heed! take heed! take heed! 

Let not his craft prevail! 

Though he come with treasure laden. 
Speak thee fair as any maiden — 

Beware, beware, beware! 

Trust not the Powhatan! 

(Smith attends closely to this warn- 
ing, but is undismayed — while on his 
guard for the future.) 

Scene in the Forest near Wero- 
wocomoco, at some distance from the 
wigwams of Powhatan. Smith and 
his men are camping in some Indian 
huts on an inlet of the river. Poca- 
hontas comes by night to Smith's hut 
and warns him against her father, 
Powhatan, who is seeking to entrap 
him by fair words and take him off 
his guard, and kill him. 

15 Pocahontas. 
Good White Father, I have sought 

thee 
Through the darkness of the forest, 
Through the dangers of the forest, 
Coming hither, unattended. 
Through the irksome wood to warn 

thee! 
Flee, this night, or he will slay thee — 
He, the Powhatan, my father — 
He will slay thee! Flee! — I warn thee! 
("With watered eies" she entreated 
him to flee. — Narrative.) 

16 Captain John Smith. 
Do I see thee, Pocahontas, 
Here alone, with friendly warning! 
Surely, there is none so faithful 
In this wildwood of Virginia, 
None so true to bring me warning! 
Surely, Heaven has sent thee hither! 
Surely, as a guardian angel, 
Thou hast come to bring me warning! 
Take these gifts^no, they would 

quicken 
In thy father's heart suspicion! 
Take my blessing! Heaven reward 

thee! 
Now, be gone, ere day is breaking! 

(Pocahontas leaves silently, gliding 
into the forest shades. Smith retires 
to his hut.) 

17 Pocahontas. In the forest. 
Her prayrr for help. 
Hear mo, O thou great Good Spirit, 
Dwelling there so far above me! 
Does thine eye look down and see me 
In the darkness of the forest? 



Hear my prayer, O save me, save me 
From the fury of my father 
When he hears of this my warning — 
Hears that I have warned the White 

Man! 
Save me from my father's fury! 

(She disappears in the forest.) 



ACT II. (Connecting links.) 
(From the longer, narrative version) 

Scene 1. Captain Smith at Nonsuch, 
speaking to turbulent settlers, (reci- 
tative.) 

Here is ground all fit for planting, 
Here build houses, make a fort here! 
No place stronger, none more pleasant, 
More delightful in Virginia! 
Nonsuch be its name; abide here! 
I will so deal with the Red Men 
That they will not hurt or harm you. 
So, be friends with one another! 
So, be friendly to the Red Men! 
Do not waste your strength in 
quarrels! 

Scene 2. Smith in his boat, returning 
to Jamestown, sleeping in his boat, 
powder explodes by accident. Powder 
bag was by Smith's side as he slept. 
Explosion. Smith is badly burned, 
jumps into river, and is nearly 
drowned. 

Scene 3. Ratcliffe, Martin and 
Archer, conspirators. Jamestown. 

Ratcliffe. 
Smith has come again from Nonsuch. 
But he scarcely lives. When sleeping 
In his boat upon the river, 
Someone struck a match, — a spark 

fell 
On the powder bag beside him! — 
Burned, in torment, he leaped over 
In the water — nearly drowned there. 
Now he's here again — a sick man, 
Helpless! 

Martin. 
Now's our time to fix him! 

Archer. 
Get a man to shoot him! 

Ratcliffe. 

Shoot him 
In his bed, and then he's done for! 

Martin. 
Then we'll have things all our o\vn 
way! 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



11 



Scene 4. Smith in bed, sick. A 
masked murderer enters the room, 
raises pistol, aims at sick man, "but 
his harte did fail him, that should 
have given fire to that mercilesse 
pistol." He withdraws. Smith is 
sleeping", unconscious. 

Anas Todkill speaks to Smith, as 
Smith lies in bed. 

Things are going wrong; we miss you. 
Ratcliffe and his crew are plotting 
To accuse you to the Council. 

Smith. 
I must leave this place, take passage 
In a ship, return to England. 
Here I linger at the mercy 
Of my foes, who plot against me. 
Here my wounds grow worse: in 

England 
There are surgeons: I must hasten. 

Scene 5. Ratcliffe, Martin and Archer. 

Ratcliffe. 
Yes, he's gone! sailed off for England! 
Now we'll have things all our own 

way! 
No more Captain Smith to hinder! 

Martin. 
We'll bring charges to the Council! 

Archer. 
Yes, we'll swear he tried to starve us, 
Whipped us, poisoned us with rat's 
bane! 

Ratcliffe. 
I'll declare he would have married 
Pocahontas, so be emperor 
Of Virginia when her father 
Died — he's getting old and feeble! 

Scene 6. In the Forest. 
Nantasquawis and Pocahontas. 

Pocahontas. 
Tell me, Nantasquawis, tell me! 
Have you seen the good White Father? 
Have you heard — are there no tidings? 

Nantasquawis. 
No, for long I have not been him. 
I have heard — 

Pocahontas. 
What heard you? Tell me! 

Nantasquawis. 
I have heard that he has perished. 
Wounded, sick — no one has seen him 
For so long — he must have perished! 



Pocahontas. 

What! My friend, the good White 
Father! 

Wounded, sick, and — dead!— I saved 
him 

Once — I brought him bread when hun- 
gry- 

I have warned him when my father 

Sought to kill him in his fury. 

Nantasquawis. 
Hush! Our father now is angry. 
He is plotting hourly, daily, 
How to strike the fort at Nonsuch. 
Will you v/arn them too — those White 
Men? 

Pocahontas, 
No, I do not trust those White Men 
In the new-built fort at Nonsuch. 
They have robbed and hurt our people. 

Scene 7. Later, after the attack on 
Nonsuch. Powhatan slew Ratcliffe 
and thirty white men, off their guard. 

Nantasquawis. (To Pocahontas.) 
Bloody times are here! Our father 
By his cunning has outwitted 
Ratcliffe and his men at Nonsuch — 
Thirty of them, in his fury. 
He has slain. The rest are hidden. 
Starving in the woods. I have one 
In safe keeping — Henry Spilman, 
He who knows our Indian language. 
He is safe. How can we save him 
From the fury of our father? 

Pocahontas. 
I will save him. I will take him 
With me through the forest pathways 
To the King of Patawomeck. 

Nantasquawis. 
Do so! I will bring him to you. 
It is time you too were hiding 
From the storm of wrath that's raging. 
Flee in time; you are in danger! 
I will bring you on your journey. 



ACT III. 

Pocahontas in Captivity. 

Scene on the Patawomeck (Pato- 
mac) River. Japazaws, the king of 
Patawomeck, and his squaw. Poca- 
hontas is on a visit to them, perhaps 
avoiding her father's fury. Captain 
Argall is captain of a sailing vessel 
on the river. He plots with Japazaws 
and ^^•i{e to betray Pocahontas to him. 



12 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



1 Japazaws. 
Hey! hey! Squaw, do what I tell you! 
Captain Argall on the river 
Has a kettle, copper kettle 
For us, if — if we deliver 
Pocahontas to him, captive! 

Talk to her, persuade her slyly 
To go with us to a banquet 
On the ship of Captain Argall. 

What, you won't, you stubborn woman! 

Here! I'll teach you how to mind me! 

(Beats her.) 

2 Japazaws' Squaw to Pocahontas. 
Come with us, O Pocahontas! 
We are going to a banquet 
On the ship of Captain Argall. 
He will show you all the wonders 
Of the White Man's ships, his sailing; 
He will give us gifts — Come with us! 

3 Pocahontas. 
No, I fear to trust this Captain! 
No, I fear him and his banquet! 
Who can tell where plots are hidden! 
I have left my father's wigwam, 
I have lost my friend, the Captain 
Of the White Man's fort at James- 
town, 
Him I trusted, trusted wholly; 
But I do not trust this Captain! 

4 Japazaws' Squaw. 
Come, I need a woman with me, 
Some one who will stay beside me. 
Keep me company — How can I 
Go alone, the only woman 
At the feast! Come, none will harm 

you. 
And the banquet — that will please 

you! 

5 Pocahontas. 
Yes, I know, a White Man's banquet! 
But, I fear, if Pocahontas, 
Daughter of Virginia's Emperor, 
Went on board a ship — 

6 Squaw. 

None know you. 
Here the White Men will not know 

you. 
In the land of Patawomeck. 

7 Pocahontas. 
I will go. They will not know me. 
I will go, and — taste this banquet! 
(Rather dubious.) 

8 Japazaws and Squaw. 

Jubilant, dancing about. 
She's coming! Hi! hi! 
She's coming! she's ours! 
Ho! ho! for a feast 
And — the kettle is ours! 



9 Scene on shipboard. A Supper. 
Captain Argall, Japazaws and Squaw, 
Pocahontas, Dumb show. Japazaws 
treads on Captain Argall's foot under 
the table, to remind him of the bar- 
gain, — significant glances, not seen 
by Pocahontas. Pocahontas retires 
early. Captain Argall gives toys and 
baubles to Japazaws and wife. 

10 Pocahontas. Next morning, on ship. 

Day breaks — I must away! 

Day breaks — I cannot stay! 

I fear some danger lurking near! 

My heart cannot shake off its fear! 

Come friends, no longer stay! 

Day breaks — I must away! 

11 Captain Argall. 
Farewell, good brother Japazaws! 
Farewell, farewell, O best of squaws! 

(To Jap's wife.) 
Farewell, if you must go. 
Let me these gifts bestow. 

(Gives them the copper kettle and 
other things. They dance around 
with delight.) 

(To Pocahontas.) 
But stay! my Indian maid! 
The Powhatan's dear child! 
My plans too well are laid: 
Nay, do not be so wild! 
I know you — no disguise 
Can hide you from my eyes! 

My prisoner you stay! 

You cannot go today — 

My noble hostage you shall be 

Till Powhatan sets our men free! 

No harm shall you befall. 

With us you stay in thrall. 

Till Powhatan pays all! 

(Pocahontas is struck dumb with 
horror, wrings her hands, looks dag- 
gers at Argall, bows her head, is led 
away.) 

12 Japazaws and Squaw, gloating 
over their kettle and gifts, pretend 
surprise at the arrest of Pocahontas. 
They sing — 

O what a shame, a shame! 

To take our guest and friend! 
Don't put on us the blame! 
(To Pocahontas.) 

So banquets sometimes end! 

(They leave the ship with their ket- 
tle, waving "Goodbye!") 

13 Scene on Ship's Deck (or cabin). 
Pocahontas with bowed head, over- 
come with grief. 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



13 



Chorus of Singers is heard. 
Grieve, grieve, true heart! 

Thy fate now makes thee sad. 
Bereft of all thou art, 

Of all that makes thee glad! 
Friends, kinsmen — none are near! 
No one to calm thy fear! 
Grieve, grieve alone, true heart! 
Thy fate now makes thee sad! 

Yet do not all despair! 

There is a seeing eye 
That marks thee grieving there; 

A new life draweth nigh! 
New friends, new kith and kin 
Thy noble heart shall win: 

do not all despair! 

A new life draweth nigh! 

Basely betrayed by those 
Who have no eyes to see; 

Their cruel, stunning blows 
Have grieved thee bitterly! 

Betrayed, yet chosen, thou! 

New pathways open now! 

Basely betrayed by those 

Who have no eyes to see! 

14 John Rolfe, who sees Pocahontas 
grieving in captivity at Jamestown. 

Lo! the Indian maiden, grieving. 
Sad that she no more can be 

Free, as erst, her wigwam leaving. 
With the dawn to wander free! 

She vvhose wont it was from childhood 
Through the forest glades to roam, 

She who loved the tangled wildwood, 
Mid the wild flowers made her 
•home! 

Now within the White Man's dwelling 
She beholds his alien ways, 

And her heart with grief is swelling 
As she thinks of other days. 

1 will ease her sorrow, telling 

Of the faith that cheers the heart; 
All her gloomy fears dispelling 
By the light new hopes impart. 

Light of wisdom, light of letters. 
These shall fill her heart with cheer; 

These shall break the pagan fetters 
That have bound her many a year. 

15 Chorus. 
Wilt thou teach the Indian maiden. 

Downcast though she now may be? 
Have a care, lest, fetter-laden. 

Thou, in turn, the captive be! 

Pocahontas! Pocahontas! 
Laughing Water! Laughing Water! 



Pocahontas, loved of many. 
In thy coat of tawny doeskin 
With its fringe of many colors, — 
In thy cap a snowy feather! 

Pocahontas! Pocahontas! 
Like the red rose in the garden! 
Like a sylvan spirit, charming 
In thy youthful strength and beauty! 
Pocahontas! Pocahontas! 
Pocahontas! Pocahontas! 
(The music dying away at the last.) 

16 Rolfe, addressing Pocahontas. 
Let me show you how my people 
Talk by writing, — so! Now copy 
What I write — -well done! — Your 

people 
Live by hunting in the forest: 
Do they prosper, in their wigwams? 

17 Pocahontas. 
Yes, my people in the forest 
Have their way to thrive and prosper; 
But you live in better houses. 
And your warriors with fire-sticks 
Could defend our land and help us 
When the Red Men from the Nortlv 

land 
Come to slay us and destroy us. 

We, in turn, could help your people 
When they perish here from hunger. 
Ere they learn the ways of living 
From the stream and from the corn- 
field. 
We could help you; you could help us: 
Why not learn to help each other? 

Exit Pocahontas. 

18 Rolfe to Whitaker, the Puritan 

Missionary. 
Oh, this Indian maiden fills me 

With despair; she charms me, lures 
me 
By her modesty; she thrills me 

With desire; her look assures me 
Of her heart; her noble spirit 
Draws me, charms me, till I fear it! 
Shall I wed this dark-eyed pagan? 
Wed this wild thing from the forest ?- 
I, a gentleman of England? 
I, a soberminded Christian? 
Tell me, you who know her better. 
Is it fitting? Is she worthy? 

19 Whitaker. 
She is worthy, she is queenly 
In her own right as a woman; 
But, I fear, when she is ransomed, — 
If the Powhatan, her father, 
Ever pays his daughter's ransom- 
She will then go back and perish 



14 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



In her forest life, a pagan! 
From that darkness who can save her? 

Exeunt. 

20 Rolfe, addressing Governor Dale 

(at Governor's house). 
Friend and Counselor, now guide me 
By thy counsel — I am troubled! 
For this Indian maiden haunts me, 
Day and night her image haunts me! 
Shall I make her mine and save her, 
Save her from her pagan darkness. 
Save her soul for God's true glory? 

For my thoughts are ever to her. 
And long time have been entangled 
And enthralled in such a laborinth 
That I never can unwind them. 
Therefore, noble friend and father. 
Show me how to win this battle. 
For I come to thee for counsel. 

21 Sir Thomas Dale to Rolfe. 
Here's my hand upon it! Take her! 
Well it suits my present purpose. 
With a company of soldiers 
I will go and see her father. 
Let him ransom her or give her 
To the man of her own choosing! 
Here's my hand upon it — -take her! 
But — first see if she will have thee! 

22. Rolfe to Pocahontas, at Lessons. 

Books, etc., on table. 
The lesson now is done. — Now tell me 
true: 
A prisoner here you stay 
Until the fateful day 
When ransomed: — tell me, then what 
will you do? 

Will you return into the wildwood 
then, 
There at your father's side. 
With him henceforth abide? 
Will you then leave us, ne'er to come 
again? 

23 Pocahontas. 
I will not leave you so! O ask me not 
To give up all that I 
Have learned to love! — To die 
Were better far for me! — O ask me 
not! 

My father though he be, I trust him 
not. 
He rules by fear alone, 
I hear his victims moan! 
My father though he be, I trust him 
not! 

24 Rolfe. 
Wilt thou then stay and be my own, 
my bride? 
Thou knowest my lonely life: 



Stand by me in the strife. 
And to this heart thy heart's true 
love confide! 

25 Pocahontas. 
If I may help thee — take me to thy 
side! 
Thy kindness made me glad 
When I with grief was sad: 
I know thy heart — and I will be thy 
bride! 

26 Scene: The Baptism of Pocahon- 
tas. Church at Jamestown. At the 
font of cedar. Baptism done in dumb 
show. 

Parson Whitaker, the Puritan 
Missionary. 
The Prince of Peace, 

Whose messenger am I, 
Bids warfare cease- -- 

His kingdom draweth nigh. 
Thee, his true child, 

By faithless traitors sold, 
From forests wild 

He gathers to his fold. 

An ancient name, 

Rebecca, shall be thine, 
Be this thy fame — 

To bind — be thou a sign! (gesture) 

A sign of peace 

Where warfare erst was rife; 
Let hatred cease. 

Be thou the end of strife! 

(Baptism performed.) 

27 Chorus of Men. Sir Thomas 
Dale's Soldiers. At the river, embark- 
ing on ship armed. Jamestown. 
Make ready there! Cast off! In order 

stand! 
Now, up the river where the Pow- 
hatan 
Dwells in the woods, his warriors at 
hand! 
To Powhatan we go, to Powhatan! 
We'll seek him out, and bring his cap- 
tive child. 
And ask an answer, be it rude or mild! 

Scene — A skirmish with Indians, 
who hide behind trees on bank of 
river, and shoot arrows at ship.wound- 
ing one man. The White Men fire 
guns. Indians disperse. 

28 Scene at Court of Powhatan, up 
the river: Village of Matchot. White 
Men and Pocahontas have landed. 
Pocahontas and Rolfe meet her 
brother, Nantasquawis. 

Nantasquawis. 
Can this be my long lost sister? 
Are you well ? Has any harmed you ? 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



If 



Pocahontas. 
Glad am I to meet my brother, 
My own brother, Nantasquawis! 
I am well. No one has harmed me. 
I have lived among the White Men 
And I know their ways and customs. 
I have learned of the Good Spirit 
Whom they worship. I have chosen 
Their God for my God. 

Nantasquawis. 

And will you 
Now return and dwell among us ? 

Pocahontas. 
No, for I have found a lover, 
I have found a Pale Face lover. 
There he stands. And he has taught 

me 
Of his God and of his wisdom. 
He has asked and I have promised. 
Go now quickly. Tell my father! 

29 Nantasquawis to Powhatan. 

I have seen my long lost sister. 

She is well and none has harmed her. 

She has lived among the White Men 

And has learned their ways and cus- 
toms, 

Learned their thoughts and how they 
worship. 

She has found a Pale Face lover. 

He is here. What says her father? 

30 Powhatan. 
Has she truly found a lover? 
Do not tarry, let her marry! 
This shall settle all our troubles! 
Make a mighty feast in honor 
Of the marriage of my daughter! 
In ten days shall be the wedding! 
This shall settle all our troubles! 

But first let me see my daughter 
And the lover of her choosing! 
(They are brought to him.) 

31 Powhatan to Pocahontas. 
Daughter mine! How changed! Em- 
brace me! 
What is this I hear? — a lover? 
Lovers cost far less than ransom! 

Pocahontas. 
Here you see the man who asks me 
To become his bride. What say you? 

32 Powhatan to Rolfe. 
You ask my daughter's hand? 

Take her you shall and may! 
Too long she plagues my land! 

Let her with White Men stay! 

Yes, have the wedding soon! 

The sooner done the more 
Content am I — before 

The changing of the moon! 



(They hasten away to prepare. All 
Indians get busy, preparing wedding 
presents and dressing up. Painting 
up. Dumb show of all of this.) 

Rolfe and Pocahontas are seen in 
dumb show, well pleased at this turn 
of events. 



ACT IV. The Wedding. 

In the church at Jamestown. Pres- 
ent: Gov. Dale, Parsons Whitaker and 
Buck, (an Oxford graduate.) The 
Governor's staff, men at arms (old 
style dress &c). Settlers. Women. 
Indians come in single file, in Indian 
costume, bringing gifts, venison, moc- 
casins, garments, head-dress, any- 
thing. Opechamo, uncle of Pocahon- 
tas; her brother, Nantasquawis, and 
others. Powhatan will not come. 
Won't trust himself in the White 
Man's fort. Episcopal service. 

1 Chorus of Indian Maidens march 
-ing in, before the bride. The bride 
comes in on the arm of her uncle, Ope- 
chamo, the Indians following. See de- 
scription of her dress, etc., in the his- 
tory. 

Rolfe comes in with Sir Thomas 
Dale and others. For dress, see his- 
tory and picture of wedding. 

This scene makes a grand pageant, 
mostly dumb show. 

Chorus before the ceremony. 
Now fare thee well, sweet Bride! 

Now fare thee well! 
Thy lover at thy side. 

Shall grief dispel! 
Yet do not all forget 
The friends who love thee yet, 

Who bring thee gifts and strow 

These flowers to let thee know 
They love thee, love thee yet — 

They love thee yet! 

Bright be the path that, fair, 

Before thee leads; 
May Heaven with bliss repair 

Each wound that bleeds! 
May gladness heal each pain! 
May joy smile not in vain! 

Heaven meet thy every need, 

Where'er thy way may lead! 
May joy smile not in vain — 
Smile not in vain — in vain! 

Scene. The minister, in dumb show, 
joins the hands of the bride and 
groom, gives the ring, and indicates 



16 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



the final prayer by raising his hand, 
while all bow heads. 

2 Chorus, as they march out of church. 

Now let all warfare cease! 
Heaven bless our land with peace! 
May this true bond of love, 
An omen from above, 
Bring in good will again, 
And firmly bind. 
As of one mind, 
The hearts of all good men! 

As brothers may we dwell. 
And love each other well! 
Join hand in friendly hand. 
Obey Heaven's high command; 
A covenant renew. 
While stars and sun 
Their courses run. 
Be to each other true! 

3 A Peace Council of Indians and 

White Men. 

These are the Chickahamania In- 
dians^ who have heard of the famous 
wedding, and wish to share the terms 
of peace. 

Governor Dale, Indian Chiefs, and 
Indian men, women and children. Cap- 
tain Argall with fifty soldiers. All 
seated in a circle. Pipe of Peace. 
Work out ceremony in detail from the 
original narrative. 

Indian Chief, acting as spokesman for 

the tribe. 
Father of the White Men, greeting! 
Greeting to our friends, the White 

Men! 
We have called you to this council, 
Seeking peace and friendship only. 
May the marriage of the Princess 
Pocahontas be an omen. 
May it be a bond of friendship! 

4 Dale. 
Brothers from the streams and forests 
Of this western land, we greet you! 
We accept your proffered friendship. 
Let us live in peace and friendship, 
Each defend and help the other 
By the terms of this our treaty. 

(Omit the terms of treaty, for brev- 
ity. Have some one stand up with 
document and make dumb show of 
reading &c. See original narratives. 

5 Speech by an old Indian Orator, 
who rises and repeats in the Indian 
language the terms of the treaty, with 
great emphasis, and admonishes old 
and young that they must keep the 
terms of the treaty. 



(Old Indian, in conclusion.) 
Hear ye all and keep this treaty 
As your life! All shout approval! 

6 (In Chorus, all Indians shout 
approval of treaty.) 
We will! we will! we will! 



As an interlude between Act IV. 
and Act V., Pocahontas may be shown, 
in dumb show, at her home. Little 
Tommy Rolfe may be shown in the 
cradle or wrapped up, Indian fashion, 
and carried on his mothers back or 
hung up on the branch of a tree or 
some convenient place, while his 
mother attends to other things. This 
child was the first boy in marriage 
by an Englishman born in the terri- 
tory of the United States, so far as 
history recordeth. Our "first Ameri- 
can Boy." 



ACT V. In England. 

1 Scene at Plymouth. Sir Thomas 
Dale, Rolfe, his wife, the Lady Re- 
becca, (and little Tommy Rolfe), dis- 
embark and go through the street. 

Uttamattomakkin is an old Indian 
whom Powhatan has sent over to ac- 
company his daughter and count the 
White Men, to see how many more of 
them there are. He keeps tally by 
making notches on tally sticks. He 
may have made one notch for ten or 
more people. 

Chorus of Boys in the street, following 
Uttamattomakkin. 

Who are these from o'er the water? 

See the Red Man! See the Red Man! 

See his moccasins of buckskin! 

See the funny sticks he carries! 

Look! He's counting, counting, count- 
ing! 

Making notches, notches, notches! 

Counting you and me by notches! 

Look! He's counting, counting, count- 
ing! 

Exeunt. 

2 Lord Delaware to Lady Delaware, 

in their home. 
The Indian Princess has arrived at 
last. 
The child of Powhatan, in wigwams 
bred; 
What shall be done to bind her fealty 
fast? 
How introduce her to great Eng- 
land's head? 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



17 



How give her welcome due before the 

Queen ? 
Who shall prepare the actors for the 

scene ? 
She must be treated as a Princess 

bom, 
With courtly honors and without 

delay; 
Let her not dream of any public scorn 
Or slight being put on one from far 

away. 
The Queen must first her worth and 

goodness know — 
Who shall this favor to our Princess 

show? 

3 Lady Delaware. 
A woman's heart may oft divine a way 
To smooth the path where ceremon- 
ies rule; 
When man's blunt sense and wisdom 
go astray, 
She takes the lead in Madame Grun- 
dy's school: 
I will instruct your Prijicess in our 

speech. 
And in our courtly ways and customs 
each. 

But, for the Queen to know her his- 
tory,— 
Who is so apt to move the royal 
heart 

As Captain Smith — he'll through the 
millstone see. 
And win the Queen by honesty's 
fine art: 

Go thou, my liege, without delay to 
him; 

He knows the way to rule a monarch's 
whim. 

4 Lord Delaware to Lady Delaware. 
Ay, that I will! Adieu! I'll find him 

out! 
He wins all hearts, if all I hear be 
true. 
He shall in this dilemma be a scout, 
And see our Nonparella safely 
through : 
Here man avails, nor can you say me 

nay! 
I'll seek him out, and that without 
delay! 

5 Lord Delaware to Captain Smith, 

at Smith's house. 
Good cheer, old friend! I seek thy 
counsel now: 
One thou once knew'st has come 
from over sea; 
And who can lend a readier hand than 
thou 
To do a favor to this friend and me: 



'Tis Pocahontas — now thine influence 
lend! 

Address the Queen, and my short- 
comings mend! 

6 Capt. John Smith to Lord Delaware. 
Good friend, thou bidst me, in thy 

hour of need, 
Return a favor owed for many a 

year; 
This Princess, then a child, by daring 

deed. 
Once saved my life — death never 

seemed so near! 
I'll think it o'er and straightway see 

the queen. 
And win her heart to favor by this 

scene! 

7. An Audience With the Queen. 

Captain Smith. 

May I have leave to speak? The need 

is great! 
Two worlds upon your gracious will 
now wait! 

8 Queen Anne. 
Speak on! Two worlds depending on 

a woman's word! 
You flatter me! — Your message shall 

be heard! 

9 Captain Smith. 

The love I bear your Majesty doth so 
Embolden me that I do venture far 
Beyond myself in making thee now 
know 
What once befell me, 'neath a favor- 
ing star! 
Ten years ago it was, ten years ago. 
When in Virginia I was captive 
ta'en; 
Then on a block my head was laid 
full low. 
My plea for pardon uttered all in 
vain. 
Out ran a child, a girl of tender years, 
And claimed my life, a much be- 
grudged boon; 
Twas her wild cries and piteous looks 
and tears 
Snatched me from death, and won 
me freedom soon. 
A woman now, and wedded, she is here 
To view our land and meet your 
Majesty; 
O bid her welcome, her heart's love 
endear. 
And win a kingdom so, most gra- 
ciously! 

10 Queen Anne. 

It shall be done! I will receive this 
child 



18 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



Of the far western wilds, and honor 

due 
Shall be bestowed to bid lit-r welcome 

here. 

11 Scene in the Streets of London. 
Uttamattomakkin in the streets with 
his tally sticks. He makes notches, 
looking wildly about. He runs into a 
crowd of people coming around a cor- 
ner, and throws away his sticks in 
despair. Gives it up. (authentic). 
He asks to see the English God. People 
laugh at him. Crowds gather, 

Uttamattomakkin. 
Must I count them?-all these people? 
Coming, going! going, coming! 
More are coming every minute! 
All my sticks are full of notches! 
There's another! Notch him! notch 

him! 
Here's a whole tribe round the corner! 
No, I cannot count these people! 
Tally sticks no good! I throw them 
All away! — too many people! 

(He speaks to a man.) 
White Man, tell me where your God 

is! 
I have come to see your people. 
Come to see your king, and — tell me! 
Where your God is — I would see him! 

(A crowd gathers. People laugh at 
him. Captain Smith comes along. 
He takes Uttamattomakkin kindly by 
the arm and leads him away. He 
points upward to the sky. Says— 

12 Smith. 
God is there! No man may see him. 
None may make an image of him, 
Like the 0-KE in the forest; 
For he is an unseen Spirit; 
In our hearts we find his image — 
In the hearts of those who love him. 

Exeunt. 

13 Scene at Branford. Smith visits 
Rolfe and Lady Rebecca, as they call 
Pocahontas in England. She sup- 
posed that he had long been dead. 
She is much overcome at the sight of 
him. 

For dramatic purposes Smith is 
here made to say what he really 
thought on that occasion. It is re- 
corded in his history. The speech of 
Pocahontas is based upon hor historic 
words and is of great dramatic value, 
as expressing her force of character. 

13 Captain Smith to Pocahontas. 
Lady Rebecca, Princess of the line 



Of Powhatan, great Emperor of the 

West, 
Our King is jealous of the royal name. 
It is his will thit ceremonious state 
And honor should attend it. Common 

men 
Must do obeisance when a Prince 

draws nigh. 
Princess, I called you "Daughter" in 

those days. 
When, as a child, you learned of me, 

and when 
You brought me corn and bread lest 

I should starve; 
But here, in England, I am but a man 
Of common rank— and you take rank 

with kings. 

14 Pocahontas becomes silent and 
remains so for the space of "three 
hours," as Smith tells it in his history. 
(Here indicated by a sufficient space 
of time.) Then she breaks silence and 
speaks impetuously. 

Pocahontas. 
I called you "Father" in my native 

wilds. 
When first you spread before my 

wondering eyes 
Fair visions of a new, a better world — 
A new world of the spirit and the 

mind! 
I saved your life, but you inspired 

my soul 
With a new life! I gave you corn and 

bread; 
You fed my hungry heart with sv/eet- 

er food. 
The bread of hope. In you I saw a 

man 
Who gloried not in bloodshed, but in 

truth. 
Strong in the spirit; prisoner, yet 

free! 
More free than his rude captors, who 

could not 
With all their savage arts affright 

his soul. 
And say vou now I dare not call you 

still 
By that same name of "Father" as of 

old? 
I tell you then, I will! and you shall 

still, 
Still call me "Daughter" — I will have 

it so! 

I know my ground! No king shall blind 

my eyes. 
I will decide my duty for myself, 
As I did then when I delivered you 
From my own father and his warriors 

ail. 



POCAHONTAS AND THE DAWN OF OUR NATION 



19 



15 The Court Scene. Presentation 
of Lady Rebecca. A pageant. Queen 
Anne, King James, courtiers, Lord 
Delaware, Lady Delaware, Rolfe, Ut- 
tamattomakkin, (authentic), and Cap- 
tain John Smith. Mostly in dumb 
show. Everything has been explained 
before this. The main thing is the 
pageant and the final v.'ord. Lady 
Delaware, in dumb show, presents 
Pocahontas to the Queen. 

Queen Anne's Greeting. 

noble heart, from thy far western 

wild, 
I bid thee welcome to our English 

land! 
A Princess thou, the Powhatan's dear 

child. 
Accept this pledge, the Queen of 

England's hand! 

May kindness reign between thy land 
and mine. 
May warfare cease, may each seek 
other's weal! 

1 bid thee v/elcome — happy years be 

thine! 
May peace prolonged our bond of 
friendship seal! 

16 Repeated by Chorus of Courtiers. 
O noble heart, from thy far western 
v/ild, 
We bid thee welcome to our English 
land! 
A Princess thou, the Powhatan's dear 
child. 
Accept this pledge, the Queen of 
England's hand! 

May kindness long about our banners 
twine! 
May warfare cease, may each seek 
other's weal! 
We bid thee welcome, happy years be 
thine! 
May peace prolonged our bond of 
friendship seal! 



17 Lord Delaware at the house of 
Captain Smith. (His hired house.) 

Lord Delaware. 
Captain, what cheer today? How 
goes the world? 

Smith. 

It goes — as this world goes, my friend, 

a- wry! 
Full of uncertainty, past finding out! 
Man strives, is baffled! Faces sudden 

death — 
Is saved! Or, in the very bloom of 

youth 
Sees life before him — sudden is cut 

down! 
A higher plan than ours must be at 

work 
Where our plans fail! 

Delaware. 

Ah, you are sad at heart: 
We all are sad. Our Indian Princess 

gone — 
Taken so suddenly when on the way 
To her old home: her husband and 

her child 
Left mourning her decease! 

Smith. 

We ne'er can tell 
The day, the hour! How often has 

grim death 
Claimed me for his; yet I escaped his 

clutch 
And live until this moment. She once 

saved 
My head, embracing it upon the 

block: 
But her I could not save. Her work 

was done; 
Mine lingers on, for I still face the 

task 
Of planting a New World beyond the 

sea. 



Glorious America 

glorious America, land of the West, 
Where the sun shines on freemen so 

favored and blest. 
Where floats our bright banner so 

fair in the sky, — 
Men flock to that standard from far 

and from nigh. 
Prom lands in the Old World, across 

the wide sea, 
They come to this new land, America 

free! 
And they find here a homeland where 

Hope hallows home, 
O where is home sweeter beneath 

heaven's dome? 

CHORUS 

Then up with our banner! The Star- 
spangled Banner! 

The flag that floats free o'er this land 
in the West! 

Then up with our Banner! The Star- 
spangled Banner! 

The flag of our homeland, the land we 
love best! 

O glorious America! long may we see 

Thy banner wave over the homes of 
the free, 

And may thy fair emblem of hearts 
staunch and true 

Be aye held in honor— the Red, White 
and Blue! 

May justice be ever the portion of all 

Who rally around it at Liberty's call; 

May goodness and mercy and bless- 
ings untold 

Shine forth like the sun from our 
flag's every fold! 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 367 109 4 



DOVER HISTORY 

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Size 71/2x101/2. Pages, 190. Cloth. Price $2.00. 

This is a special limited edition of matter contributed to The 
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Mr. Piatt has, in effect, secured the co-operation of a local history 
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By the same author: — 

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